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Connection Limit - Shares and Printers RRS feed

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    I have a specific question about the 10-connection limit that is: does it apply to shared folders and shared printers?

    A potential client for WHS has a specific need that 15 - 20 visitors with laptops who come to the office for monthly meetings be able to access a shared folder and print.  This would require more than 10 concurrent connections to the shares.  It is not a problem for those visitors to all use the same user account which can be one of the ten allowed, like "Guest" or "Visitor".  I'm not asking about installing the connector software on more than 10 PC's or creating more than 10 user accounts, only concurrent connections to WHS shares.

    I've been unable to find a specific answer to what will happen when more than 10 computers attempt to access a share or printer on WHS concurrently, and cannot find it addressed in the EULA.  The only thing I've found is an indication in this thread (http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/whssoftware/thread/ac174e52-1b2f-4576-97cc-3d19dd2d401b/) that it may work. "- How about standard file shares?  Can only 10 people access file shared on WHS? - nope, as many people as your bandwidth and server will allow :-)"

    I've seen with an XP Pro host, that the 11th computer that attempts a connection to a share on it will display a message that "the connection limit has been exceeded...".  If one of the 10 computers already accessing a share disconnects, then it will be able to connect.  This scenario is a deal breaker for my client, and I need to know positively that it will not happen before I sell him a WHS.

    My follow-up question is: if concurrent client connections to shared folders and printers aren't limited to 10, are they limited at all since there isn't a CAL available for purchase?

    Thanks in advance,
    Steve Alwine

    Monday, February 2, 2009 4:10 PM

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    The ten connection concurrent limit applies to all of MS's non-server operating systems, to prevent them from being used as server operating systems.  That's why you see the error with XP Pro.  Since WHS is based off of the SBS version of Win2k3 Server, it does not have the concurrent connection limit.  You and your client can rest easy :)
    • Marked as answer by Steve Alwine Thursday, February 19, 2009 2:59 PM
    Monday, February 9, 2009 1:36 AM

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    I suspect (but can't verify ATM) that access to shares and printers would be effectively unlimited. All I can really do is suggest you give it a try. :)
    I'm not on the WHS team, I just post a lot. :)
    Monday, February 2, 2009 4:15 PM
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    The ten connection concurrent limit applies to all of MS's non-server operating systems, to prevent them from being used as server operating systems.  That's why you see the error with XP Pro.  Since WHS is based off of the SBS version of Win2k3 Server, it does not have the concurrent connection limit.  You and your client can rest easy :)
    • Marked as answer by Steve Alwine Thursday, February 19, 2009 2:59 PM
    Monday, February 9, 2009 1:36 AM